A child was dragged off a dock and into the water by a territorial river otter at Bremerton Marina in Kitsap County, Washington, on September 12. The child, who was walking with his mother, was pulled into the water in a rare attack.
The mother fought to free her child, but the otter bit the child on the arm and continued to chase them down the dock. The child sustained scratches and bites on the head, face, and legs, and was treated at a Silverdale hospital.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Sergeant Ken Balazs praised the mother's quick actions and the child's resilience. The otter was caught and euthanised by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, and its remains were tested for rabies.
This incident is one of only six documented river otter attacks in Washington in the past decade. River otters are common in the state but are usually not aggressive towards humans.
